443Kviews
Italian Photographer Shows What Childhood Looks Like In Different Corners Of The World (30 Pics)
Italian photographer Massimo Bietti travels the world capturing breathtaking photos along the way. His trademark is incredible portraits of people from the most distant corners of the globe and each tells a story about their lives. We collected a gallery of kids' portraits that reveal what childhood looks like in different parts of the world. Bietti explored countries from Russia, Norway, and India to Papua New Guinea, Ethiopia, Malaysia, Vanuatu, and many more to find these unforgettable faces and present an honest cross-cultural perspective on childhood.
Scroll down to meet these kids and get an unfiltered glimpse of what their everyday life looks like, including contrasts and similarities!
More info: Instagram
This post may include affiliate links.
South Sudan
We've all gone or are still going through childhood, but what these photos capture might not seem relatable. This occurs because, unfortunately, a so-called 'normal' childhood depends on where you live. In many parts of the world, children are still robbed of their childhood due to poverty, health issues, lack of education, child labor, early marriage, or violence despite many affected countries have set the well-being of their children and their brighter future as the highest priority.
According to the annual Global Childhood Report 2019, children of today have "a better chance than at any time in history to grow up healthy, educated and protected, with the opportunity to reach their full potential." 280 million children are better off today than they would have been in 2000, as the number of suffering children was reduced from an estimated 970 million to 690 million thanks to success stories of many countries that have made remarkable progress in improving children's lives. But there are still 280 million changes to be made!
Russia
India
This Indian girl is beautiful. Her smile lights up her face, & her vibrant brown eyes are mesmerizingly beautiful. She literally glows with an inner joyful light of Innocence that shines out from her eyes!
If you enjoyed these children's photos, you might also like similar articles on Bored Panda where we highlight other utterly talented photographers who choose to document children around the world. We have recently featured a wholesome story about Bangladeshi photographer GMB Akash, who turned the lives of working kids in Bangladesh upside down by sending them to school and taking full financial responsibility for their education. He captured their transformation in powerful before and after photos.
Another Italian photographer, Gabriele Galimberti, has been visiting children around the globe to capture their portraits with their most valuable toys to illustrate that all kids find their way to play despite their diverse backgrounds and conditions. Photographer Gregg Segal shot a photo series of what kids from different cultures eat in one week and English-born photographer James Mollison photographed where kids sleep.
Ethiopia
Cambodia
Ethiopia
South Sudan
Papua New Guinea
Ethiopia
Malaysia
Bangladesh
This makes you ashamed when you see kids with a room full of toys and they say "I have nothing to play with!"
Ethiopia
Myanmar
This little boy’s robe indicates he is doing his monk training, as all Buddhist boys will at some point in their lives. Myanmar is a poor but beautiful country.
Cambodia
India
India
Papua New Guinea
It looks that this child's head dress is made of leaves instead of the birds of paradise feathers of which are traditionally used and thus making them dangerously close to extinction. I hope that this is true.
Vanuatu
South Sudan
Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Note: this post originally had 100 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.
While the photos are looking great, seeing that ~90% of them are from like 6 different countries, I don't really think the term 'worldwide' is justified.
Notice all photos from Africa and certain parts of Asia are all tribal kids (read: from poor and undeveloped regions) . None from more modern parts of the continents. Selective biases?
I guess the photographer thought a, say, Ethiopian kid from a big city, wearing a t-shirt and Nikes, wouldn't be as ... interesting.
Load More Replies...
Interesting idea, but to be blunt, the execution or presentation leaves a little to be desired. If this is a project on indigenous people, say so. If not, cast a wider net. I did love the pictures that were provided.
While the photos are looking great, seeing that ~90% of them are from like 6 different countries, I don't really think the term 'worldwide' is justified.
Notice all photos from Africa and certain parts of Asia are all tribal kids (read: from poor and undeveloped regions) . None from more modern parts of the continents. Selective biases?
I guess the photographer thought a, say, Ethiopian kid from a big city, wearing a t-shirt and Nikes, wouldn't be as ... interesting.
Load More Replies... Interesting idea, but to be blunt, the execution or presentation leaves a little to be desired. If this is a project on indigenous people, say so. If not, cast a wider net. I did love the pictures that were provided.
